Protests against austerity have rocked Europe
Since the financial crisis broke we have seen a rising tide of protest, revolutions and resistance.
One of the driving forces of these movements has been a desire to change the future: to reject the idea that we have no future outside of the logic of never ending austerity, declining living standards and the loss of public services to private profiteers.
Up the Anti is a one day conference to think about and discuss how we lay claim to the future that we want and deserve. It will host an eclectic mix of sessions, ranging from in-depth seminars and debates to participatory, facilitated discussions and workshops. There are many questions we need to ask, including:
- Is there an alternative to capitalism? What might it look like?
- How do we win popular support for new radical projects?
- What can we learn from the social struggles and new movements in Europe?
- And how do we overcome divisions within left and radical movements?
What next after the Occupy protests?
We called the event ‘Up the Anti’ because we all agree that we need to build a bigger movement against social oppression and capitalism. But we are not just against things, we also want to reclaim the future from those in power who seem intent on dragging us towards austerity, growing social inequality and environmental destruction.
The conference will be held in London at Queen Mary university, not far from Mile End and Stepney Green underground stations.
But the day is not just all workshops and seminars, we also have time for a gig at Queen Mary Student Union with comedy, music and DJs. Highlights include the up and coming radical comedian Chris Coltrane and the critically acclaimed blues guitarist Sean Taylor.
UP THE ANTI is a genuine movement event put on by a plurality of groups, websites, publishing houses, and networks. It is sponsored by New Left Project, Ceasefire, Occupied Times, Anticapitalist Initiative, Red Pepper and Globalise Resistance.